Chair for supporting reinforcing bars and method of using the same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a chair for supporting rebars above a surface in a reinforced concrete structure. The chair comprises a support structure which includes a rebar supporting area for receiving the rebars, a first leg and a second leg. The chair further comprises first and second base members which are adapted to engage with the first and the second leg ends. Therefore, when the first leg end and the second leg end are securely engaged with respectively the first base member and the second base member, the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member such as to receive rebars. Accordingly, concrete may be poured around the chairs positioned on the surface and further around the rebars that are supported by them.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to devices adapted to support reinforcing bars (rebars) above a surface in a reinforced concrete structure and to methods of using the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to three-part chairs that are adapted to support rebars above a surface in a reinforced concrete structure that can easily be assembled for their applications in concrete construction.

BACKGROUND

In reinforced concrete construction, it is necessary to support the reinforcing bars (“rebars”) in their designated locations during placement of the concrete and thereafter as it cures. This was accomplished, in its most rudimentary form, by simply resting the rebars on pieces of concrete placed on the surface. Obviously, this approach was unsatisfactory for many reasons, such as the lack of any means for fixing the rebars at their designed positions, as a result of which the rebars were displaced as the concrete was poured.

In response to the shortcomings of this method of supporting rebars, four-leg welded wire supports were developed and are used extensively in the reinforced concrete construction industry. With metal supports, however, there is a potential problem of corrosion. Coating the wire with epoxy, or introducing one or more plate(s) between the wire and the surface, is a method of dealing with this problem, but coating is expensive, and if the coating is damaged, corrosion may still occur.

However, plastic supports are generally non-corrodible and therefore overcome the problems noted above with welded wire supports, but they usually lack the open construction provided by wire supports that permits full flow of concrete through and around the support during concrete placement.

There is therefore a need for an improved device that can support/receive rebars in concrete constructions.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a chair for supporting reinforcing bars above a surface in a reinforced concrete structure that overcomes or mitigates one or more disadvantages of known chairs or at least provides a useful alternative.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a chair for supporting a rebar above a surface in a reinforced concrete structure, the chair comprising:—a support structure comprising: a rebar supporting area for receiving the rebar; a first leg extending from the rebar supporting area and defining a first leg end; and a second leg extending from the rebar supporting area opposite the first leg and defining a second leg end;—a first base member adapted to engage with the first leg end; and—a second base member adapted to engage with the second leg end; wherein when the first leg end and the second leg end securely engage with respectively the first base member and the second base member, the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member.

According to another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the first leg downwardly extends from the rebar supporting area when the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member.

According to a further embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the second leg downwardly extends from the rebar supporting area when the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member.

According to yet another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein each one of the first and second base members comprises:—a main body for interfacing with the surface when the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member; and—a hollow longitudinal member extending from the main body for releasably receiving the support structure.

According to another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the hollow longitudinal member of the first base member is adapted to releasably receive the first leg end.

According to a further embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the hollow longitudinal member of the second base member is adapted to releasably receive the second leg end.

According to yet another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the hollow longitudinal member of the first base member and the hollow longitudinal member of the second base member each defines a circular cross-sectional surface for respectively receiving the first leg end and the second leg end, the first and the second leg ends each defining a corresponding circular cross-sectional surface.

According to another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein each one of the first and second base members comprises concrete receiving areas formed through the main body to facilitate free flow of concrete therethrough and around the main body when the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member.

According to a further embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the support structure is a wire defining the rebar supporting area, the first leg and the second leg.

According to yet another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the wire defines a first fold between the rebar supporting area and the first leg and a second fold between the rebar supporting area and the second leg.

According to another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the wire further defines a third fold in the rebar supporting area, between the first fold and the second fold for receiving the rebar.

According to a further embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein diameter of the wire is between about 0.2 inch and about 0.4 inch.

According to yet another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the support structure is made of steel.

According to another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the first base member and the second base member are made of a plastic material.

According to a further embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the plastic material comprises polyethylene.

According to yet another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the main body and the hollow longitudinal member are integrally formed.

According to another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the first leg end and the second leg end each defines a threaded surface.

According to a further embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the hollow longitudinal member defines a longitudinal opening, the longitudinal opening defining a corresponding internal threaded surface.

According to yet another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, wherein the threaded surface defined by each one of the first and second leg ends is adapted to engage with the corresponding internal threaded surface defined by the longitudinal opening.

According to another embodiment, there is provided the chair as defined above, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the first leg end and the second leg end with respectively the first and second base members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of chairs in accordance with an embodiment, where the chairs are shown positioned on a surface such as to support two reinforcing bars (rebars) in a reinforced concrete structure, positioned according to one layer of concrete;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the plurality of chairs shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a chair base member taken alone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a chair 10 (a three-part chair) for supporting a reinforcing bar or rebar 12 above a surface 14 in a reinforced concrete structure (concrete poured around chairs 10 and rebars 12 not shown in FIG. 1). Chair 10 comprises a support structure 16 which includes a rebar supporting area 18 that is configured to receive rebar 12. Support structure 16 further includes a first leg 20 which extends, or downwardly extends (when chair 10 is positioned on surface 14), from rebar supporting area 18. First leg 20 defines a first leg end 22. Support structure 16 also includes a second leg 24 which extends, or downwardly extends as mentioned above, from rebar supporting area 18 opposite first leg 20. Second leg 24 defines a second leg end 26.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown that chair 10 further includes a first base member 28 that is adapted to engage with, or to receive, first leg end 22 of first leg 20, and a second base member 30 that is adapted to engage with, or to receive, second leg end 26 of second leg 24. According to such configuration of chair 10, when first leg end 22 and second leg end 26 securely engage with respectively first base member 28 and second base member 30, support structure 16 is supported above surface 14 by first and second base members 28, 30.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 3, there is shown that each one of first and second base members 28, 30 comprises a main body 32 which is configured to interface with surface 14 when support structure 16 is supported above surface 14 by first and second base members 28, 30. As shown, first and second base members 28, 30 define a lower surface that correspond to lower surfaces 33 a, 33 b, 33 c. It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art to which chair 10 pertains would understand that main body 32 may take any shape, size and/or configuration, as long as it provides stability of chair 10 when lying on surface 14 and receiving rebar 12, even if here, only two legs are provided to fully support rebars 12. First/second base members 28, 30 further include a hollow longitudinal member 34 (defining an opening, or a cavity 44) which extends, or upwardly extends from main body 32. More particularly, hollow longitudinal member 34 upwardly extends from main body 32 in a way that its longitudinal axis 31 is substantially perpendicular to surface 14, by which it is supported. Hollow longitudinal member 34 or hollow member 34 is configured such as to releasably receive (within its defined cavity) first and second legs 20, 24 of support structure 16 at its first and second leg ends 22, 26. Again, it is important to be noted that a person skilled in the art to which chair 10 pertains would understand that hollow member 34 may take any shape, size and/or configuration, as long as it can securely receive (via an opening or a defined cavity or bore 44) first and second leg ends 22, 26. Furthermore, even if main body 32 and hollow longitudinal member 34 are shown to be integrally formed, it is important to understand that they can together adopt any configuration (two parts or more may be connected together), as long as they provide stability to support structure 16 in a way it can accurately receive/support the rebars 12, but also receive the loads once the concrete is poured on the device.

As shown, hollow longitudinal member 34 of first and second base members 28, 30 defines, via its opening 44, a circular cross-sectional surface such as to respectively receive first and second leg ends 22, 26, as first and second leg ends 22, 26 each defines a corresponding circular cross-sectional surface (ends of wires 20, 24).

Still referring to FIG. 3, there is shown that first/second base members 28, 30, which are identical, each includes concrete receiving areas 36 a, 36 b spaced apart between bottom surfaces 33 a, 33 b, 33 c and formed between main body 32 and surface 14 (when chair 10 is lying on surface 14) to facilitate free flow of concrete therethrough and around main body 32 and rebars 12 when support structure 16 is supported above surface 14 by first and second base members 28, 30. Chair 10 may further include a plurality of additional voids (not shown) formed through support structure 16, first base member 28 and/or second base member 30 such as to facilitate free flow of concrete therethrough and around chair 10 and further such as to break up shear planes that could be created in the structure in which the chair is embedded and contribute to cracking and weakness.

According to the above-described chair 10, rebar supporting area 18, first leg 20 and second leg 24 are integrally formed using a steel wire. Indeed, the wire defines a first fold 38 between rebar supporting area 18 and first leg 20 and a second fold 40 between rebar supporting area 18 and second leg 24. The wire further defines a third fold 42 in/within rebar supporting area 18, between first fold 38 and second fold 40 and serves as a reception area for receiving rebar 12. The wire, or support structure 16, may have a diameter of between about 0.2 inch and about 0.4 inch, and for example, may have a diameter of 0.250 inch, or a diameter of 0.312, and the like, for maximum rebar support in upper slabs, or in any heavy applications.

First and second base members 28, 30 of chair 10 are made of a plastic material for rust free contact. The plastic material may include, without limitation, polyethylene, or any other suitable plastic material that provides isolation between steel wire 16 and surface 14, rust-free contact, but also sufficient strength such that chair 10 may receive the load of concrete when poured on chairs 10 and rebars 12 in industrial applications.

Regarding the connection, or releasable connection, between the first/second leg ends 22, 26 of support structure or steel wire 16 and first/second base members 28, first/second leg ends 22, 26 of steel wire 16 are introduced and pushed within holes/openings 44 defined by first/second base members 28, 30. Leg ends 22, 26 of steel wire 16 may alternatively include a threaded surface adapted to engage a corresponding threaded surface defined on internal surface of openings or cavities 44 provided in base members 28, 30. Such configuration allows a strong connection between steel wire 16 and first/second base members 28, 30.

It is however important to be mentioned that a person skilled in the art to which chair 10 pertains would understand that other locking mechanisms may be introduced to strongly/permanently fix steel wire 16 to base members 28, 30 (ex.: pins radially extending from steel wire 16 at its leg ends 22, 26 that can be secured in receiving areas found in holes 44 defined by base members 28, 30, protrusions outwardly extending from first/second leg ends 22, 26 of steel wire 16 and/or from internal surface of cavities 44 defined within base members 28, 30 capable of interconnection, and the like).

Chair 10 is therefore used for supporting the reinforcing bars, the rebars 12, in a reinforced concrete structure. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 1, more than one chairs 10 are needed. Indeed, two chairs 10 (or more) are positioned on surface 14 such as to support/receive a first rebar 12. Two other chairs 10 (or more), that have an increased clearance height, are positioned on surface 14 such as to support/receive a second rebar 12, above and perpendicular to first rebar 12. Once all needed chairs 10 and rebars 12 are positioned on the surface, concrete may be poured.

Chairs 10 may be positioned directly on the ground services (before pouring a first layer of concrete). However, where a second layer of concrete is needed, chairs 10 may be positioned over the first layer of concrete, sitting on the steel mat (not shown).

First and second plastic base members 28, 30 of the above described chair 10 may be injection molded (or extruded) from a suitable plastic such as polyethylene (i.e., High Density Polyethylene), polycarbonate, polypropylene, and nylon and may be reinforced from various fibers, such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, and metal fibers. Both the steel wire 16 and the first/second base members 28, 30 may be constructed in many sizes, shapes and/or configurations, as long as each chair 10 provides easy, quick, strong and secure connection between its parts, namely the wire or support structure 16 that needs to be connected to first and second base members 28, 30.

Chairs 10 as defined above are therefore, according to their respective configurations, stable once their parts are interconnected, and further easy to interconnect and to install. Since chairs 10 as described above may be assembled and disassembled, storing space is further reduced.

While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of this disclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure. 

1. A chair for supporting a rebar above a surface in a reinforced concrete structure, the chair comprising: a support structure comprising: a rebar supporting area for receiving the rebar; a first leg extending from the rebar supporting area and defining a first leg end; and a second leg extending from the rebar supporting area opposite the first leg and defining a second leg end; a first base member adapted to engage with the first leg end; and a second base member adapted to engage with the second leg end, the first leg downwardly extending from the rebar supporting area when the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member; wherein when the first leg end and the second leg end securely engage with respectively the first base member and the second base member, the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member; and wherein each one of the first and second base members comprises: a main body for interfacing with the surface when the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member; and a hollow longitudinal member extending from the main body for releasably receiving the support structure.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The chair of claim 2, wherein the second leg downwardly extends from the rebar supporting area when the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The chair of claim 4, wherein the hollow longitudinal member of the first base member is adapted to releasably receive the first leg end.
 6. The chair of claim 5, wherein the hollow longitudinal member of the second base member is adapted to releasably receive the second leg end.
 7. The chair of claim 6, wherein the hollow longitudinal member of the first base member and the hollow longitudinal member of the second base member each defines a circular cross-sectional surface for respectively receiving the first leg end and the second leg end, the first and the second leg ends each defining a corresponding circular cross-sectional surface.
 8. The chair of claim 4, wherein each one of the first and second base members comprises concrete receiving areas formed through the main body to facilitate free flow of concrete therethrough and around the main body when the support structure is supported above the surface by the first base member and the second base member.
 9. The chair of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a wire defining the rebar supporting area, the first leg and the second leg.
 10. The chair of claim 9, wherein the wire defines a first fold between the rebar supporting area and the first leg and a second fold between the rebar supporting area and the second leg.
 11. The chair of claim 10, wherein the wire further defines a third fold in the rebar supporting area, between the first fold and the second fold for receiving the rebar.
 12. The chair of claim 11, wherein diameter of the wire is between about 0.2 inch and about 0.4 inch.
 13. The chair of claim 1, wherein the support structure is made of steel.
 14. The chair of claim 1, wherein the first base member and the second base member are made of a plastic material.
 15. The chair of claim 14, wherein the plastic material comprises polyethylene.
 16. The chair of claim 4, wherein the main body and the hollow longitudinal member are integrally formed.
 17. The chair of claim 4, wherein the first leg end and the second leg end each defines a threaded surface.
 18. The chair of claim 17, wherein the hollow longitudinal member defines a longitudinal opening, the longitudinal opening defining a corresponding internal threaded surface.
 19. The chair of claim 18, wherein the threaded surface defined by each one of the first and second leg ends is adapted to engage with the corresponding internal threaded surface defined by the longitudinal opening.
 20. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the first leg end and the second leg end with respectively the first and second base members. 